Christmas tradition in Iceland, Gingerbread

Many Icelandic families celebrate the advent. We start four Sundays before Christmas by lighting a candle, putting up Christmas decorations and enjoying gingerbread and hot chocolate. Then we light a new candle every Sunday until Christmas. On the last Sunday before Christmas we have a wreath with four lit candles. Baking gingerbread cookies is a Christmas tradition in Iceland, last week we baked and decorated Gingerbread cookies with students and parents at school.

Gingerbread recipe

500g hveiti/500 g flour
250g sykur/250g sugar
180g smjörlíki/180g margarine
4tsk kanill/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2tsk negull/ 2 teaspoon cloves
4msk síróp/ 4 tablespoon syrup
2tsk natron / 2 teaspoon soda
2tsk engifer / 2 teaspoon ginger
½ bolli mjólk/ ½ cup milk

Mix together the dry ingredients. Add soft margarine and knead until smooth. Cool in the refrigerator overnight. Roll out and cut out cristmas shapes. Put on a cookie sheet, covered with baking paper and bake at 200°C until brown (about 10 minutes).

Decorate with colored frosting.